Medical Coagulation Instrument Distal Electrode Tip Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical coagulation instruments with electrode tips protruding beyond the distal end of the shaft are prone to causing injuries and have a small, unstable coagulation surface, and their manufacturing can be complex due to the difficulty in producing distally widened electrode tips.
Innovation Solution
Designing bipolar coagulation instruments with electrode tips that widen distally, either continuously or in a step-shaped manner, and applying small plates, such as tube segments, to the outside or inside of the electrode tips to increase stability and reduce the risk of injury, while simplifying manufacturing through various joining methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrode tips are made to widen distally to increase stability and reduce injury risk, then stability and safety are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode tip is divided into multiple segments or layers, with each layer having a specific width. The distal end includes multiple electrode tip layers arranged in steps, where each successive layer toward the distal end has a greater width than the previous layer. This segmentation allows the complex widened shape to be manufactured through sequential deposition or assembly of simpler components rather than attempting to form the entire complex geometry in one step.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode tip structure employs a nested arrangement where multiple electrode tip layers are positioned concentrically or in overlapping configurations. Each layer is nested within or adjacent to the others, creating the stepped widened profile through superposition of simpler geometric elements. This nesting principle transforms the manufacturing task from creating one complex shape to assembling multiple simpler nested components.
2Reliability
If electrode tips are made to widen distally to increase stability, then stability is improved, but the risk of patient injury during insertion increases due to larger distal profile
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode tip structure transitions from a uniform narrow profile to a stepped widened profile along the distal direction. This dynamic variation in width creates zones of different stability characteristics - the proximal portion remains narrow for safe insertion, while the distal portions expand stepwise to provide stability during operation. The stepped configuration allows the electrode to adapt its effective profile depending on the operational phase.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the electrode tip have different width characteristics optimized for their specific functions. The proximal sections maintain a narrower width suitable for safe insertion through tissue, while the distal sections feature progressively wider layers that provide stability during coagulation operations. This local differentiation of geometric quality resolves the contradiction between insertion safety and operational stability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If electrode tips have a small distal surface area, then insertion is safer, but coagulation effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode tip structure extends the coagulation surface area not only in the radial direction but also in the axial direction through the stepped layers. Multiple electrode tip layers are arranged along the distal axis, each contributing to the total coagulation surface area. This dimensional extension allows the effective coagulation area to be increased without necessarily increasing the width of any single cross-section, thereby maintaining insertion safety while improving coagulation productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The total coagulation surface area is segmented into multiple discrete electrode tip layers rather than relying on a single large surface. Each layer provides a portion of the total coagulation area, and the stepped arrangement ensures that at least some layers maintain a narrow profile for safe insertion. This segmentation of the coagulation function across multiple layers resolves the contradiction between insertion safety and coagulation effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The distal widening of electrode tips enhances stability and durability, reduces the risk of patient injury, and simplifies manufacturing, while also increasing the coagulation surface area for effective heat generation.
Implementation Method 1
the coagulation instrument has an electrode tip to which current is applied, via which the current enters the tissue at the small contact surface of the electrode tip with the patient, generating heat
Implementation Method 2
a small plate is applied, in particular welded, to the outside of an electrode tip
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
The medical coagulation instrument has a shaft (2) and electrode tips (4,5) that are overlapped to one of the distal ends of the shaft. The electrode tips are formed according to the distal in a widened or expanded manner. The electrode tips are arranged against each other.